TECHNICAL CLASSES.

Evening Star, Issue 9831, 21 October 1895, Page 4

TECHNICAL CLASSES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —By your report of the speeches at the presentation of diplomas in connection with the Technical Classes I notice that one of the speakers spoke in a Way that seemed to reflect upon Mr Selby, teacher of carpentry, and his assistant. With your permission 1 would like to say a word on this subject. As there is nothing in the constitution of the Association to show that amateurs are not welcome to the privileges of the manual classes, numbers who are not apprentices to the trade pay tkeir fees and attend. There was a large attendance in the carpentry class, and nearly all were amateurs. As each student has to pay for the limber he uses, Mr Selby allowed us to make what articles we wished ; hence the origin of the articles specified in the speech referred to. As an amateur, I do not profess to know how a class in carpentry should be conducted, but I speak for others as well as myself when I say that we are deeply indebted to Mr Selby for his patience, industry, and kindness. Daring the midwinter holidays Messrs Selby and Simpson gave us a lesson in practical mathematics, and we went home wondering what they had been talking about. Their subject was beyond the comprehension of the class. This might not have been the case if all the students had been apprentices. If the classes exist solely for the benefit of apprentices the Association should say so, and amateurs would not trouble them. But when amateurs are allowed to attend, and the instructors do the best they can for them, it is not pleasant to have such reports scut in. lam sure that Mr Selby and his assistant have earned the sympathy and gratitude of the whole class.—l am, etc., Student.

Dunedin, October 19.